AI Summary:

  • Utah is poised to ban fluoride in public water systems, pending the governor’s signature.
  • The bill prohibits adding fluoride to public water and repeals previous related laws.
  • Federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized fluoride, influencing the bill.
  • Studies on fluoride’s impact on children’s IQ have mixed results, with some showing negative effects and others showing no harm.
  • Major public health groups support fluoridation for dental health benefits.
  • The anti-fluoridation movement has gained popularity post-Covid-19.
  • Similar legislation is proposed in Florida, emphasizing the importance of consent in public health measures.
  • Loce@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    They should put lead back into gasoline as well, while they’re at it…and asbestos in a baby powder.

  • thingAmaBob@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    When I was younger, I was confused as to why fluoride was in water, since we would receive regular fluoride tablets in grade school. I’m sure not every school does that…

  • njm1314@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Somewhere there’s a cabal of dentists sitting around a table in a dark and shadowy room cackling madly

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    I think I’m well past the point of caring if a bunch of conservative’s teeth fall out.

    As for those living there that are smarter than their conservative neighbors, honestly, we’re heading toward a future in this country where you may actually need to move to a blue state to have a decent future. Sorry.

  • NotLemming@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    In a few years americans will be known for their bad teeth like the English are now

  • peregrin5@lemm.ee
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    7 days ago

    Uh, here in Oregon it’s already been banned for a long time. This headline is sus.

    • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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      7 days ago

      The difference is in verbiage. Oregon doesn’t require it, but Oregon also doesn’t ban it and leaves it up to municipalities. Utah is trying to actively force municipalities to not be allowed to use it.

    • IamSparticles@lemmy.zip
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      7 days ago

      It isn’t banned in Oregon. Many communities have simply decided not to do it. Hillsboro recently voted to stop fluoridating their water, for example.

      This would be the first time an entire state has literally banned the practice.

      And it’s stupid. There are maps of the US that show which states have the lowest/highest rates of dental caries. The states with the lowest rates just happen to have mandatory water fluoridation, and the states with the lowest rates of fluoridation all have the worst dental health. Meanwhile there’s zero evidence that drinking fluoridated water has negative health effects.

      • peregrin5@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        Ah gotcha. And yeah I agree it’s dumb to not fluoridate our water but toothpaste companies need to be able to upcharge on extra fluoride toothpaste and dentists need work right? /s

    • Argonne@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      What’s the point of baking soda toothpaste if you’re going to use fluoride rinse anyway

  • Labtec6@lemmy.ca
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    8 days ago

    Dental issues increased in Calgary and they voted to put it back.

    • wildncrazyguy138@fedia.io
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      7 days ago

      This is the way. The idiots have been coddled for generations. They need to have the experience of their teeth rotting out for themselves.

      • cybersin@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        And what about the other 49% they dragged down with them? You’ve also just made everyone’s dental insurance 10x more expensive. Thanks!

        • indomara@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          For anyone in a state without fluoridated water, you can get fluoride drops to put in your/your children’s water.

          • howrar@lemmy.ca
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            7 days ago

            Why not just brush their teeth? I’m pretty sure fluoridated toothpaste is much easier to come by than fluoride drops.

            • Bahnd Rollard@lemmy.world
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              7 days ago

              Because adding fluoride to tap water provides measurable benifits regardless of socioeconomic status.

              In addition, other countries where municpal water is not as developed, they will add fluoride to salts and other consumer products.

              • howrar@lemmy.ca
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                7 days ago

                We’re comparing toothpaste to fluoride drops, not fluoridated tap water.

                • Bahnd Rollard@lemmy.world
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                  7 days ago

                  Because your logic is flawed coming to that question. It insinuates that one is needed over the other. This is not a fair comparison because toothpaste and fluoride suppliments are purchased and flouridated tap water costs almost nothing to consumers of municipal water. All sources must be taken into account for public health programs like this.

          • prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works
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            7 days ago

            I grew up with well water and we didn’t have naturally occurring water.

            Our doctor prescribed us a chewable tablet we took every night after dinner.

            Didn’t get my first, and only, cavity until I was 35.

            My ex-wife who grew up with me had a dad who was “they’re putting gay vaccines in our fluoride to turn our cavities to queers” type and they didn’t …. Cavity city.

  • solsangraal@lemmy.zip
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    8 days ago

    next up (unless it happened first): no more data collection or research about statewide dental health